Swinging search-light for automobiles and other vehicles.



F. JACKSON.

SWINGING SEARCH LIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES AND OTHER VEHICLES. APPLICATIONFILED 111111.13, 1912.

1,097,588w v. Patented May 19, 1914.

FRANK JACKSON, 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

SWINGING SEARCH-LIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES AND OTHER VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1914.

Application filed August 13, 1912. Serial No. 714,846.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK JACKSON, a citizenof the United States of America, residing in the city and county ofDenver and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful SwingingSearch-Light for Automobiles and other Vehicles, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in swinging searchlights andparticularly in variably adjustable brackets for attaching the same toautomobiles and other vehicles. The object of the invention is toprovide a bracket of this character which permitsof the lamp beingturned to stand at any desired angle either on a horizontal or a vertical axis. Further, to provide a support comprising a right angledplate, and plates pivotally clamped to the members of said right angledplate, one of which connects with the lamp, while the other connectswith a suitable part of the automobile, the plates being under resilientclamping tension with respect to, the angle plate members, so that theyengage them frictionally, means being provided whereby the engagingplates lock automatically when thelamp is in a given position on eitherits horizontal or vertical axis, and is prevented from accidentalmovement from such position. These objects are accomplished by themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a plan view showing the improved bracket, a lamp securedthereto, and means for adjustably connecting the said bracket with theside rod of a wind shield. Fig. 2, is a side view of the device shown inFig. 1. Figs. 3., 4E, and 5, are perspective views of the partsconstituting the bracket. Fig. 6, is a sectional view-full size--on theline 6-6. of Fig. 2. And Fig. 7, is a perspective view showing aslightly different form of the bracket.

Similar letters of reference refer to sinnlar parts throughout theseveral views.

In order to discern house numbers and the names of streets ordirectiondndicating signs, or to direct the light upon the road in theimmediate vicinity of the automobile,

it is essential that one or both of the side lamps should be so mountedas to be capable ofbeing swung in a horizontal plane, or tilted to throwits rays either upward or downward, and this essential is met in theform of bracket hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,The numeral 1 designates an automobile side lamp or searchlight of the usual style, which is providedwith a suitable socket 2, by which it may be secured to a bracket whichmay be secured to the automobile.

In the present instance, the bracket to which the lamp is secured formsthe essential feature of my invention, and this bracket comprises threeparts or members, 3, 4, and 5, which are constructed and arranged asfollows: The member 3 is in the form of an an le plate, one Wing ofwhich is substantia ly circular in form, and is integrally connectedtothe other wing, which is preferably circular in form. The under face ofthe horizontal wing 3 of the plate, is provided with equidistant shallowlongitudinal grooves 6, which form alternating ribs or raised portions 7of the same depth, and the sides of the groove are flared croutwardlyinclined as shown. Theouter face of the vertical wing 3 of the plate isalso formed with equidistant longitudinal grooves 8, which formalternating ribs or raised portions 9, and the sides of these groovesare also outwardly inclined. The Wings 3* and 3 of the plate areprovided with central-apertures 10 and 10 respectively, the aperture 10being threaded, as clearly shown in Fig. i.

The member 4 of the bracket, comprises a vertically disposed strip, theupper portion of which is in the nature of a tongue 4, which is adaptedto enter the socket 2 of the lamp, in which it is secured by a set screw2, a stop lug 11 being formed on the tongue against which the bottom ofthe socket 2 rests, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower portion of the member4 is rounded and formed with a circular face 4 which is provided withalterna tin ggrooves and ribs 12 and 13 respectively, which are adaptedto interlock with the corresponding grooves and ribs 8 and 9 of thevertical wing 3 of the angle late 3, and this rounded portion of theExember 4: is provided with a central elongated opening 14, whichregisters with the opening 10 of thewing 3.

From one side of the grooved end of the member 4, projects a handle 15,for manipulating,the lamp, as will telly appear hereinafter.

The'lamp-holding member 4 is clamped to the wine' 3 of the angle plate,by a bolt 16,

which passes loosely through the elongated hole 1 1, and is threaded tothe hole 10 in the wing 3, a locking nut 17 being screwed upon the outerend of the bolt against the said wings. Between the head of the bolt 16,and the lamp holding member, is interposed a spring washer 18, which isslightly bowed, as shown in Figs. 2 andG, and when the bolt 16 isscrewed hard upon this washer, the parts 3 and 41 are held togetherunder a resilient clamping pressure, which causes the interlockinggrooves and ribs in the parts'to hold the lamp in its normal position,or so that its axis is on a horizontal plane; and when the handle 15 isgrasped and the lamp-holding part 4 is turned axially with respect tothe-part 3, so as to disconnect the grooves and ribs of one part fromthose of the other, the frictional eugagement of the ribs of the twoparts under the tension effected by the spring washer, will serve tohold the part 4 with the lamp, at any angle to which it may be turned.When the lamp is turned back to its normal position, the grooves andribs of the parts will interlock automatically, as will be understood.The bolt 16 is preferably a hollow bolt, as shown most clearly in Fig.6, and the feed wires leading from the lamp are passed through thisbolt, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The connection of the part 1 with the part 3 provides for tipping thelamp so as to direct its rays either upward or downward. The swinging ofthe lamp through the arc of a circle, and on a horizontal plane, isaccomplished in the following manner: To the under side of the wing 3 ofthe angle plate, is clamped a stationarily mounted circular plate 19, bya bolt 20, which passes loosely through the aperture 10 in the member 3,and through a threaded aperture 21 in the plate 19, a locking nut 20being screwed upon its end against the, plate 19, and a bowed springwasher 22 is interposed between the head of the bolt and the wing 3 Theengaging face of the plate 19 is formed with grooves 23, alternatingwith ribs 24, which grooves and ribs interlock with those of the wing 3when the lamp is in its normal horizontal position. hen it is desired toswing the lamp on ,a horizontal plane, either to the right or leftf''the handle 15'is grasped and the angle plate is turned on its axis,upon the plate 19, carrying with it the lamp-holding member, and theangle plate is held in the desired position with respect to the plate19, by the frictional engagement of the faces of the ribs of thawing 3and those of the plate 19 under the resilient pressure exerted by thebowed spring washer 22.

The plate 19 is formed with a depending horizontally disposed hub 23, bywhich the plate may besecured to a suitable arm or bracket, which passesthrough the said hub In the and is attached to the automobile.

present instance, however, the variable adjustable bracket constitutingmy invention, is preferably arranged for attachment to one of the s debars of a wind shield, and I accomplish .this in the following manner:Upon one ofthe side bars 2%, of any of the commonly used wind shields,is secured a support, which comprises a substantially semi cylindricalmember 25, which is clamped in any suitable manner to the bar 2%, and anintegral hub 26 which lies parallel with the part 25, as shown. Throughthe hub 26 is passed a piece of metal tubing 27 the upper portion ofwhich is bent to stand at right angles to the part passing through thehub 26, and is preferably of less length. The tube is held in the hub 26by set screws 28, as shown, or in any other suitable manner, and theshort, horizontal portion of the tube is passed through the hub 23 ofthe plate 19, set screws 29 being employed to so cure the hub 23 uponthe end of the said tube shown. It will thus be seen that the tube'27may be turned axially in the hub 26, and secured in any desiredposition, and should the wind shield and consequently its side barsstand at either a forward or backward inclination, the hub 23 of thePlate 19 can be turned upon the end of the tube 27, to bring the axis ofthe lamp on a horizontal plane.

By employing the tube 27 and the tubular boltlG, I provide a practicaland convenient manner of disposing of the feed wires leading from thelamp, the said wires being passed through the bolt and thence downthrough the tube 27 to a storage battery or other source of currentpower. .By this means the wires are not only protected-and kept out ofthe way, but they are not affected either by the tilting of the lamp ona horizontal axis or the swinging of the same on a vertical axis, aswill be understood by reference to Fig. 2.

In Fig. '7 I have illustrated a bracket embodying the same principle asembodied in the form of bracket above described, but arranged in aslightly different manner, or so that it may be attached to a support onthe side of the car. In this arrangement an angle plate 30 is employed,the wi s of which have grooved faces similar to t ose of the angle plate3, but the horizontal wing 31 of this plate projects from below thecenter of the vertical wing, instead of from above its center, as in theplate 3. A lamp supporting member 32, is clamped to thevertical wing 33,of the angle plate, by a tubular bolt 34, and the member 32 is identicalwith the member 4, as shown in Fig. 3. To the under of thepreviously-described bracket; and from the under side of the plate 35depends a socketed lug 37, for attaching the bracket to the common formof supporting arm. The tubular bolts 34L and 3 6, in this form of thebracket, permit the feed wires from the lamp to be passed through them,and thence to the storage battery and by this means the wires are notonly conveniently disposed of and so as to be out of the way, but theyare not kinked or twisted when the lamp is operated.

In operation, when it is desired for any purpose to shift the lamp fromits normal position as shown in Figs. 1 and2, the handle 15 is graspedand the lamp may be tilted to throw the rays of light at either anupward or downward inclination, or the lamp may be swung on a horizontalplane and then tilted, in any of which positions it will be heldstationary by the frictional engagement of the bracket members, as abovedescribed. When the lamp is swung back to its normal position, theengaging faces of the parts 3 and 19 will interlock automatically, andthus indicate the said position, and when the lamp is tilted to itsnormal po sition to throw its rays in a horizontal plane, the normalposition is indicated by the interlocking automatically of the engagingfaces of the parts 3 and 4, as previously described.

' l/Vhen desired, the lamp carrying member 4, may be shifted on itsaxial bolt 16, so

that its grooved face can not interlock with the corresponding face ofthe wing 3 when the lamp is tilted up and down, and this is accomplishedin the following manner: As previously mentioned, the hole 14 in thepart t is an elongated hole, through which the bolt 16 passes loosely. Alug 38 depends from the lower edge of the wing 3 in position to be enaged by the stop lug 11, on the member 4-, when the lamp is turnedsubstantially one-half of a complete revolution, and when the lug 11engages and is pressed hard against the lug 38, by the handle 15, themember 4 will be shifted slightly so that its axial center will lie toone side of the axial center of the member 3, thus preventing the partsfrom becoming interlocked, as the faces of the ribs will always be infrictional engagement, regardless of the position of the member 4- withrespect to the member 3.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1,. In a lamp bracket as specified, an adjustahle stationary platehaving a ribbed face, an angle plate the wings of which have ribbedfaces, one of which engages the con respo' in face of the stationaryplate, an and bolt o looting said wing and plate spring washer on saidbolt under compression between its head and the said wing; an axial boltextending from the other wing of the angle plate, a lampholding armmounted on said bolt having a ribbed face in engagement with thecorresponding faceof the wing, a bowed spring washer on the bolt undercompression be tween its head and the lamp arm, and a handle on the lamparm whereby the same may be turned with respect to the angle plate, andthe arm and angle plate may be turned with respect to the stationaryplate.

2. In a lamp bracket as specified, an adjustably mounted stationaryplate, an angle pla'te, one wing of which is axially pivoted to thestationary plate nd in resilient frictional contact therewith, saidangle plate having a swinging movement on a horizontal plane; a lampholding arm, one end of which is axially pivoted to the other wing ofthe angle plate in resilient frictional contact therewith, and a handleon the lamp holding arm.

3. In a lamp bracket as specified, the combination with the side bar ofa wind shield and a right angled arm connected thereto, of a platehaving a hub secured upon the horizontal portion of said arm, an angleplate, one wing of which is axially pivoted.

to said plate, and in resilient frictional contact therewith, a lampholding arm, one end of which is axially pivoted to the other wing ofsaid angle plate in resilient frictional contact therewith, and a handleon the lamp-holding arm.

l. In a device as specified, the combination with a search light havingan attaching socket, of an arm secured in said socket, an angle plate,one wing of which is axially pivoted to said arm and in resilientfrictional engagementtherewith, a stationary arm having a horizontalportion, a plate having a hub adjustably secured on said horizontalportion, said plate being axially pivoted to the other member of theangle plate and in resilient frictional contact therewith.

5. In a device as specified, the combination with a stationary plate, ofan angle plate, one wing of which is axially pivoted to said plate andin resilient frictional contact therewith; a lamp-holding arm axiallypivoted to the other wing of the angle plate and in resilient frictionalcontact therewith, the contacting faces of the parts being formed withinterlocking grooves and ribs, and means whereby the lamp-holding armmay be shifted to bring its axial center out of line with the axialcenter of the contacting wing of the angle plate.

6. In a device as specified, the combination with a stationary plate andan angle plate, one wing of which is axially pivoted to-the stationaryplate. and in re frictional contact therewith, of a lamp holding armhaving an elongated axial aperture, a bolt extending through saidaperture and securing said-arm to the other wing of the angle plate,means for clamping the arm to the said wing under a resilient frictionaltension, the engaging faces of the parts being formed with interlockingribs and grooyes, a lug on the lamp arm, a lugpn the adjoining wing ofthe angle plate in the rotary path of the lug on the arm, and a handleon the lamp arm, said lamp arm being shifted by the forcible engagementof its lug with the lug on the adjoining wing, so that the pivotalcenter of the arm will be out of line with that of the wing.

7. In a device as specified, a stationary tubular arm, a plate having adepending hub secured upon the stationary arm, an angle plate,-one wingof which is axially pivoted to the plate and in' resilient frictionalengagement therewith; a lamp arm, a tubular pivot bolt passing axiallythrough the lamp arm and through the other'wing of the angle plate, andmeans for holding the wing and lamp arm under resilient frictionaltension, and an electric search light on the said arm having teed wiresextending therefrom, said wires being passed through the tubular bolt,and tubular supporting arm, to a source of energy, thereby beingprevented from twisting or kinking, when the lamp is swung on ahorizontal plane, or tipped on the said tubular bolt.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRAN K JACKSONe Witnesses Gr. SARGE'NT ELLIO'IT, ADELLA M. FowLE.

